A Lufthansa flight from Los Angeles to Munich was forced to make an emergency diversion after a passenger’s tablet became trapped in a business-class seat.
The incident occurred on an Airbus A380 aircraft carrying 461 passengers.
About three hours into the transatlantic journey, the pilots made the decision to divert to Boston Logan International Airport.
According to a statement provided to Business Insider by a Lufthansa spokesperson, the tablet had been “jammed in a Business Class seat” and had shown “visible signs of deformation due to the seat’s movements.”
Reports from Simply Flying, which first covered the story, indicated that the device in question was an iPad.
The airline explained that the diversion was necessary to “eliminate any potential risk, particularly with regard to possible overheating.”
The decision was made jointly by the flight crew and air traffic control to prioritize safety.
Lithium batteries, commonly found in tablets, are known to present serious risks when damaged, punctured, or crushed.
A compromised battery can enter a state known as thermal runaway, causing overheating that may lead to a fire or even an explosion.
“In a confined space like an aircraft cabin, such incidents can pose a significant danger to passengers and crew,” Lufthansa emphasized in their statement.
Upon landing in Boston, a Lufthansa Technik maintenance team was called in to safely remove and inspect the damaged device.
After ensuring there was no lingering threat, the flight resumed its journey to Munich.
The precautionary diversion added around three hours of delay to what was originally planned to be an 11-hour flight.
Despite the inconvenience, Lufthansa affirmed that passenger and crew safety remains their top priority.
Such incidents, though rare, highlight the critical need for strict safety protocols involving lithium-powered devices on flights.
In a similar event last year, a Breeze Airways flight from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh made an emergency landing after a passenger’s laptop caught fire mid-flight.
The growing dependence on portable electronic devices means airlines must stay vigilant about the potential dangers these gadgets can pose in-flight.
Travelers are advised to immediately inform cabin crew if they lose a device in their seat or notice any unusual heating or damage.
Swift action can prevent a small problem from becoming a major safety incident.